Button Plasma TURP 4 weeks POST

Posted , 45 users are following.

To all those guys deciding what proceedure to have. 

I had the Button Plasma TURP August 30, 2016 after 10 years of dealing with BPH. I am 61 live in Southern California and in good health.  I was getting up 3-4 times a night and taking Finesteride and Doxysosyn (same thing as Flomax). During this time I had a couple of trips to the ER for a total blockage. Probally the most pain I have ever felt is when you can't pee. Two days of a cathter and I was back to normal.

After years of dealing with the pills and urgency my prostate finally grew so big that it completely shut down my ability to pee. Of course this happened on the 2nd day of a cruise. Thankfully cruise ships have hospitals and catheters, but finishing a cruise wth a leg bag affixed to your inner thingh is not my idea of a fun vacation. Anyway, for another month I had a catheter due to not being able to pee without it. The doctor said that the prostate finally grew to the point where it was pressing on everything in the area. Spicy food, alcohol, coffee and sitting for long periods would set it off so I needed to make a decision on having a surgical proceedure.

I researched severeral different proceedures but finally decided on the Button TURP. (less bleeding, less complications, and no hospital stay)

I tryed self catheterization but was not willing to do that for the rest of my life and I had difficulity inserting the tube without alot of pain and bleeding. So got an appointment with a urologist who is young and up on the new proceedures. He recommended Urolift but soon realized that my prostate was too big so therefore the button was the next step. I went to another surgeon who also advised a TURP but only did the original one and I wanted something new and inovative. I decided on the newer version although they all burn or cut out prostate tissue just by different methods.

I went in for a 7 am surgery and was out by 2 pm with a cateter and bag, antibiotics, spasm and pain meds. The first couple of days had some pain and spasms but nothing ibuprophen couldn't handle. The cateter stayed in for 9 days which, was uncomfortable, but I am glad it was done. My Dr was big on leaving it in for longer than the usual 3 days. It allowed my prostate time to heal and the swelling to go down so he said.

On day 10 the doctor removed the catheter and  said see you in 3 months and everything was good. He said the prostate was the size of a lemon ( way over 100 G) and had pushed into the bladder. The proceedure took 1 1/2 hours and he was only able to remove 50% of one side and everything around the bladder neck. He assured me that was enough and said I should be good for the rest of my life. He also said that I should not have any issues with retro ejaculation because he only removed the side opposite to the seminal canal. ( Hopefully he is right haven't tested that yet)

He allowed me to go back to the gym advising me not to lift heavy and no sex for 30 days. No other warnings except that it takes 6-8 weeks to heal and up to 3 months before it's back to normal. His lack of concern was reassuring to me seeing I have read way too many horror stories about the TURP.

I pee with no effort, still wake up twice a night but at least I pee real good. Every once in a while I get itching inside around the prostate (I assume it is healing) and minor after burn when peeing. Not bad it goes away real fast. I notice it is usually after a hard workout or when I overdo things during the day. No more blood or pressure when I sit and I never saw any scabs in my urine as described by some.

So it has been 4 weeks since surgery and I am glad I did it. It feels great to pee again. Yes there is some frequency at times (usually when you stand up after sitting) but no incontenence. I get errections better than before and the sensation seems better. I haven't had sex yet but soon, so I don't know about what that will be like. For many years I had retro from the drugs and got used to it.  I am a little apprehensive about sex because of the DR's warning not to have it for 30 days. Don't want it to get swollen or have a adverse reaction. I have not found much about sex after TURP so I am still in the dark.

Anyway guys it wasn't as bad as I thought and I am glad I did it. Don't get me wrong, you are not up and about running around for awhile but at least you can pee, get erections and have some hope for the future. You need to take it easy because the proceedure is rough and that area does not like to be poked, probed, cut burned and messed with. Drink alot of water and do not get constipated!. Take those stool softeners. It is amazing how everything down there is tied together.

If anyone has advice on the sex issue please let me know. Hopefully that works without issue.

I will keep all posted as time goes and after ejaculation ( if there is any) because that is what seems to concern most of us about this procedure.

So far so good!

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  • Posted

    Your post button plasma account is encouraging.  I will undergo same soon.  I will return to your post to measure my experience.  Thank you.
    • Posted

      Rob  Make sure you have it in writting and you have told your doctor of your concerns.  Some doctor will not do them because it take time and they just want to go in and cut away at everything.  I hope you have a good doctor that will take good care of you.  Let us after how things good  Take care  Ken 
    • Posted

      Rob, Good luck with your procedure. It has been 7 months and I am still doing good. The urgency is gone and I get up once or twice to pee during the night. I still get a good erection (A man's fear) and I ejaculate some but not much. The feeling is there but only a little bit comes out. The doctor says that is normal.  My PSA is still very high (12 the same as before the BPT) and he thinks it is because the prostate is really big even with removing half of it.

      Reminder that with a BPT the doctor can not test the tissue for cancer like a regular TURP because the flesh is vaporized.

      I am going to have a MRI of the prostate just to make sure there ae no suspicious things going on. The only way cancer can be detected is via a biopsy and I don't want one of those just because of a high PSA.  FOR 10 years it ranges between 9 and 12.

      Other than the high BPH all of the symptons are gone. Doctor says I'm good for 10 years until it grows back. He reminded me that the prostate continues to grow.

      Kenneth is right a BPT is tedious and time consuming because the plasma head is so small. Hopefully he goes around the ducts so you have somewhat of a normal ejaculation.

      Let me know how it goes.

    • Posted

      David that is right.  But Rob you have to remind the doctor of your concerns about retro.  This way he can go around the ejaculatory ducts and the sphincter muscle.  He can go around and just remove the tissue that is causing the problem  Take care  Ken  
    • Posted

      If you take care to eat right and supplement right, it won't grow back. Consider 5000 IU daily of vitamin D3 and look into a supplement called "Prime Male." GL!

  • Posted

    David75878, thank you for the input.  And thanks to others who have been encouraging in their comments.  
  • Posted

    Can you tell me where this procedure can be done?  Had prostate artery embolization and still having to use catheter.  Need to do something else.
  • Posted

    Hi David. Just read your post about your turp procedure.I'm laying in my hospital bed worried about what morning will bring. I had turp performed yesterday. So far, all I see ok. My urine is light pink. Although when I get up and walk there is some darker shades. He did tell me that it's possible the procedure could not work. But he did say the surgery went the way he wanted. They will remove the catheter sometime in the morning. I'm hoping I can pee. I'm worried I'll get home and have issues. I don't want to self cath. Tried that before and couldn't do it. I'm 57 yrs old and looking forward to sleeping without continual morning wake up calls several times a night. I was told I can resume work but no heavy lifting. And no sex for at least 4 weeks. I think I'd be afraid to try anything. I'll be able to get an erection but I'll have dry orgasms. No more semen. I'm on flomax anyways for now. It's actually stopped me from ejactulating so I'm used to the dry orgasms. Hopefully I can give you Good news sooon. Let me know how your are doing. Thanks again

    • Posted

      David  I am reading your post and I hope all goes well for you  But I don't get it.  WHY WOULD YOU HAVE A PROCEDURE THAT YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU IT MAY NOT WORK.  To me I would have try something less evasive. With less side effects even if your used to most of them.  No way would I have a surgery done that they tell me it may not work.  To me that makes no sence Good luck  Ken  

    • Posted

      I wasn't aware of this until

      After surgery. Assuming the Turp is the way to go. He didn't mention this until I came out of surgery. I read about this procedure and it seemed the way to go. He stated if i wasn't urinating completely then I have a bladder issue and may need to self cath. We shall see. I don't want to go that route. I'll keep you posted david.

    • Posted

      I hope this will help you but it a shame he keep that to himself and didn't tell you until after.  I think that should have been mentioned before you had the surgery.  Good luck and I will say a prayer for you  Ken . 

  • Posted

    David, can you share an update? Any RE? Are you off all meds? 
    • Posted

      I recovered very well. I had no pain at all. Was home within 48 hrs. I was able to urinate completely after my third attempt.

      Had done residual blood in urine for a couple days. I didn't need any pain meds at all. I'm feeling very good. The catheter came out the next morning. It didn't hurt st all but did have discomfort but nothing significant

    • Posted

      that's all good to hear, David.   Did you have button turp or regular turp?  I'm having button turp in 2 weeks

    • Posted

      I had button turp bill. I think the only thing that bothered me was coming out of anesthesia. I wasn't sick from it just weird feeling. And like I said, no pain. The catheter was the only irritating thing about it. You'll do well. I really like my urologist.

    • Posted

      Bill if the doctor takes his time with the button plasma turp you will not have retro  IT can take up to 3 hours.  Voice your opinion on it so he knows.  With the PBT he has more control of the button and can avoid the ejaculory duct and the bladder neck sphincter.  Good luck  Tell him you do not want retro.  It can be done.  My urologist have done alot and the men have never had retro.  KEn  
    • Posted

      that's very encouraging news!   I'm not going to read any more negative reports before the surgery biggrin

    • Posted

      I don't have any retro. I was told I would. Hurt slightly but nothing terribly painful. I was surprised.

    • Posted

      I'm from Pittsburgh. Where are you located?

    • Posted

      I live in orlando florida.  He name is Dr. Patel in orlando  Great guy  Ken
    • Posted

      Hi Ken,  I am searching for your Dr in Orlando and find there are several Dr Patel's.  Could you provide more detail so I can confirm I am contacting the right one.

      Thank You

      Bob

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